%0 Journal Article %A Richmond, Gail %D 2000 %I Begell House %N 4 %P 17 %R 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v6.i4.20 %T EXPLORING THE COMPLEXITIES OF GROUP WORK IN SCIENCE CLASS: A CAUTIONARY TALE OF VOICE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR LEARNING %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/00551c876cc2f027,7513b9390452902b,31484cd24b3dd7ed.html %V 6 %X The interactions of 2 focus students with others in their cooperative base groups were examined as the students designed, carried out, and interpreted scientific investigations. These 2 students differed with respect to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic achievement. They were alike in that both maintained high levels of motivation and interaction with the scientific problems they faced. Their group interactions were not entirely positive, and the difficulties and inequities they faced are described. The data make manifest that group work is a complex process; educators must be sensitive and responsive to the subtle ways understanding can be enhanced or undermined as a result of group dynamics, which are in turn determined by individual expectations—often unfounded—of others' capacities and behaviors, and perceptions of desired group and individual outcomes. These observations also have implications for how educators help prepare prospective teachers to develop effective pedagogical strategies for teaching diverse students. %8 2000-12-01